OPCC Match Reports for 30 July – 1^st August 2011

It was good weekend for sun-bathers!  Not so good for Old Parks league results.  But the Sunday B’s had a good win as did the Under 15s and Under 13s.  And the Monday game at Westcliffe was a cliff hanger.

It is a particular it is pleasing to mention Paran Kalley’s maiden century for the club, scoring 103 not out for the under 13s against Benfleet.

SNEL League

Old Parkonians 1^st XI lost at home to Belhus by 30 runs.

Belhus won the toss and decided to bat on what looked like and proved to be a good batting track.  Indeed, Gavin Jeffires stroked his way to 105 not out and with Joe Joyce getting 70 not out, they were able to declare on 256 for 2 after 43 overs.  Rushan Pandya (10-1-44-1) managed to bowl the only maiden of the innings and the other wicket taker was Kirubagartan (Kiru) Jayapragasam (7-0-43-1).

Parks got off to a good start in reply and looked to be heading for a possible win at 156 for 1 with plenty of time to get home.  Hermes Solomonides (52) and Glenn Sasiskaran (41) put on an opening stand of 79 and then Dave Rai (22) and Haris Khan (41) took Parks into a winning position.  But wickets fell at the other end and, but for 24 from last man out Jai Patel, Parks withered away and were all out for 226 in 51.5 overs and time to spare.

Old Parkonians 2^nd XI lost away at Belhus by 4 wickets.

Old Parkonians won the toss and, electing to bat first, were all out for 181 in 50 overs.  It could have been many more.  Y. Karuna (top scoring with 52) and Amit Kalley (43) saw Parks to 104 for 1 before the latter was run out.  With the introduction of Belhus’ two fine spin bowlers, runs became elusive, that is until Jayaprakash (Jabba) Siverajah entered the fray, swinging the bat at the tail-end to score a rapid 22 which included 5 high 4's, that enabled Parks to reach 181.

Belhus went into bat assuming the target was there for the taking on such a good track.  But Jonathan Balakumar had other ideas.  Assisted with two fantastic catches by Max Muckesh, one of which saw him snatching a hard hit ‘boundary ball’ from the air horizontally with both feet doing justice to a pole vaulter, Belhus were 7 for 3 wickets, with all three going to Jonathan.  All looked promising for Parks with Siverajah 10-5-33-1 and Jonathan Balakumar 9-2-45-4 restricting the runs and taking wickets. 

But Marnes scoring 65 not out to steady the ship for Belhus and although Parks took further wickets, Belhus’ superior batsmen reached the required total in 34 overs with 4 wickets in hand.  But it was a close run thing until the final few overs.

It was a very enjoyable match played on the excellent pitch at Belhus in sunshine with both teams playing keenly in the spirit of the game.

Old Parkonians 3^rd XI lost at home to Chingford 4^th XI by 63 runs.

Parks 3rd XI lost to a surprisingly strengthened Chingford 4th XI who were put into bat first, but were then able to declare at 234 for 7in 44.3 overs.  Zishan Rehman (57) and Jack Bassett (81 no) batted well to post a good total for Chingford.  Vijay Vijayanyathan was the pick of the Parks’ bowlers with figures of 14.3–0–51–4.

In reply, despite loosing opening batsman Haaris Shah in the first over, a good 2^nd wicket patnership of 82 runs in 18 overs between Jazeb Razaq (46) and Taaha Naqvi  (32) and a late cameo innings of 35 from Neil Cox proved to be in vain as Parks were all out for 171 in 42.3 overs.

Old Parkonians 4^th XI lost away at Orsett by 59 runs

Parks lost the toss for the first time* and were asked to field on a warm day.  The first over went well with Prakash Seeralan taking a wicket.  Thereafter, Orsett’s Dave Kooyman (94) and young Tom Haden (101 not out) put on a partnership of over 200, with very few chances given.  Old Parks picked up a couple of late wickets as Orsett took risks to accelerate the scoring and declared on 256-3 after 43 overs.  The only wicket takers for the Parks were Prakash Seeralan (11-2-46-2) and Qais Khan (10-0-40-1).

In reply Old Parks started brightly with Nick Thorpe scoring a quickfire 56.  After that a number of Parks batsmen got a start, but then got themselves out, apart from sam Goldman with 32.  But he was also one of Harry Lockyer’s 5 wickets as was last man out Umar "Dutch" Arbar (30).  Indeed, Parks nearly managed to hold out for a draw, but Dutch was last man out to the 2nd ball of the last over.   Orsett's young left-arm spinner Harry Lockyer finished with 5 for 63.

* Vice-captain Kumeran Ravendradas tossed up instead of skipper Nick Weekes, whose 10 tosses in a row still stands unended!

Sunday

Old Parkonians A XI lost at home to Fancy Dans by 4 wickets.

Batting first up, Parks’ opener Harry Markatis batted well for 34 against this strong New Zealand side containing some experienced ‘first class’ players.  Runs were not easy to come by and Parks were struggling with about 11 of the 40 overs to go when Amar Thanki joined Nick Thorpe.  They played with courage and spirit against quick, hostile bowling, with Nick hooking the star quickie for a numbers of 4s in his last 4 over spell, smashing him for two in succession one bounce over the rope.  This really annoyed the Kiwi, to the point where he kept saying “try hitting that one” after each of the first 4 from his last over !!  But he got Nick in the end for 33 and Parks were all out fort 202.

The Dans knocked the runs off fairly easily for the loss of 6 wickets.  Amar Thanki took a couple a couple of wickets, bowling well, as did Max Muckesh without success.  

Old Parkonians B XI won at home against STM by 2. runs.

Parks won the toss and decided to bat in this 35 over match.  But then opening bowler Sam Mayes ran through the early order with 4 wickets for 19 in 7 overs, bowling fast and straight.  Indeed, he injured a couple of batsman, but Sarfaraz bravely fought on to make 25 before being bowled.  Omar played well and scored 16, and with the other players getting out quietly, quickly and cheaply, by the end Parks had managed only 81 all out in 25 overs.  

In reply, Nav Kalley and Y Karuna both bowled very well, with Nav taking 3 for 38 in his 7 over spell, and Karuna 1 for 24 in 4 overs.  Tariq Jameel took 2 for 7 in 3 overs, ensuring that Parks’ bowling made it difficult for STM.  With everyone sharp and keen in the field, STM were restricted to 79 all out – making it a low scoring but ultimately successful day for the Parks.  This provided an early end to a game played in a friendly spirit, only two injuries, and to the Pavilion for an enjoyable and welcome Tea!

Monday 1^st August

Old Parks lost by one wicket at Westcliffe on Monday in the annual all day game at the start of the seas-sider’s cricket week.

In this close encounter, played in scorching heat in front of holiday-makers, Parks batted first and accumulated 242 all out either side of lunch.  With wickets falling a regular intervals and 6 down by lunch, this was thanks to the afternoon’s partnerships formed by Rushan Pandya (31), a classy innings of 52 by late-order batsman Baldeep Mann, and Dilan Patel’s 25. 

Westcliffe’s openers made the total look within easy reach and at 150 for 2 things looked bleak.  But Parks came back after tea through Rushan Pandya (12-4-31-5), Baldeep Mann, whose figures of 8-2-35-1 belie his sharp spell of good seem bowling, and a revelationary Jack Hanley who came on late and took one for eight in four very tight overs including two maidens.  Only last wicket luck– two good chances went their way - saw Westcliffe home by the skin of their teeth at 244-9, thanks to 4 wides!

Colts

Old Parks Under 15s played Buckhurst Hill on Sunday at home and won by 33 runs.

Old Parks U15’s faced Buckhurst Hill in a friendly. The Parks were put into bat and made 123 for 8 in their 25 overs with Shane Vamadevan hitting a good 34 not out.  He was ably assisted by Prakash Seeralan 25, and Nimanka de Silva 23.  Parks then restricted Buckhurst Hill to 90 for7 off their 25 overs with 6 out of the seven bowlers picking up a wicket each.  Prakash Seeralan opened the bowling and did exceptionally well with figures of 4 overs, 2 maidens, 2 runs and a wicket.  Parks won by 33 runs.

Old Parks Under 13s won by 108 runs at Benfleet on Sunday in the Peter Coe Cup.

Old Parks remain unbeaten after Round 6 of the Peter Coe Cup 2011, following a convincing win against Benfleet.

Batting first, Parks lost a wicket in the forth over with only 22 scored.  But then Paran Kalley (scoring 103 not out, his maiden century for the club) was joined by Sachin Bawa (61) for an amazing second wicket partnership of 176 runs. Parks finished on 215 for3 from their thirty overs.

In reply, Benfleet made 107 all out with Karthik Bhat (5-0-11-3), Dilhan Gabhari (5-1-20-1), Pragash Maniccadevan (4-2-4-1) and Akhil Patel (3-1-12-1) taking the wickets.

A win in the final match of the Group stage next Sunday will ensure the Under 13's reach the semi finals.

Old Parks Under 11s lost a close game at home to Woodford Wells on Sunday by 3 wickets.

This was a closely fought contest but Woodford Wells won in the last over. Old Parks batted first and got off to a very good start with Ronan Karuna scoring 25 not out and Paresh Kalley 21.  With some late hitting from Eshun Kalley (13) and Karthengan Thavanesan (6 not out), Parks posted a competitive score of 113 for 5.

Things were looking good with Woodford Wells behind the run rate at the half way stage.  But some excellent batting and poor bowling and fielding meant they needed 1 run in the last over which they were duly presented with virtue of a wide.  However, the stand out bowler for Parks was Pranav Khetia with very impressive figures of 3 – 1 – 10 – 3.  He was ably supported by Ryan Karuna, Ronan Karuna and Karthegan who all picked up a wicket each. It was a great game of cricket but in the end Old Parks were pipped at the post by the Wells.